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Tasked with putting out blazes from 1894 to 1957, the former Engine 46 Firehouse, 1401 S. Water St., has served as a site for figurative flames this year, with community members fuming over its possible demolition.
Through a July 31 meeting with a trio of its New York-based overseers from Cedar-Riverview LP, two prominent local figures learned their preservation efforts could retard calls for the location’s destruction.
“I want for the space to remain an active, viable part of the community,” James Moylan said Monday outside the imperiled Pennsport site. “We all understand the owners want something to
complement their other buildings in this area, and we want to be able to support and promote it if it’s appropriate for our community.”
The resident of Front and Federal streets and fourth-year president of the Pennsport Civic Association, 1837 S. Second St., expressed the same sentiments last week upon convening with Cedar personnel, including president Bruce Schanzer, at 1st District Councilman Mark Squilla’s Center City office. The businessmen ventured to Philadelphia to acknowledge pleas for explanations of their plans and gathered accounts of the unoccupied space’s significance.
“They came begrudgingly,” Moylan said of the visitors, whose company did not reply to inquiries as of press time. “They own the building and can do whatever they want with it, but there was just too much secrecy for us to continue to accept.”
Familiar with the corporation through many years of correspondence with officials and the use of its establishments, including the Engine 46 Steakhouse that operated within the expanse from ’96 to 2006, he became stunned upon learning in June that it desired to demolish the structure on or after July 30. He noted no discussions on its future had occurred between the parties until last week’s gathering, through which he and his political peer posited if helping to secure a tenant could cause reconsideration.
“Our hope is definitely to fill the spot,” Squilla, of Front Street and Snyder Avenue, said of Cedar’s intention to raze the edifice and an adjoining building that once housed a GameWorks Studios, adding the original January demolition permit, renewed June 10, came about unbeknownst to the community following Cedar’s inability to finalize a lease with a prospective tenant. “The process has often been frustrating, but we’re hopeful.”
Cedar, which told Moylan two brokerage firms have thus far failed to attract an inhabitant for the empty post, agreed to let him collect, vet and send along the names of possible lessees, an announcement that pleased Ben Leech.
“Our plan is to flood Dr. Moylan with inquiries,” the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia advocacy director said, noting what a loss the Flemish-revival style construction would be for the city.
Even before the present snafu, interest in protecting the firehouse had surfaced through an application to add it to the metropolis’ Register of Historic Places, a move that proved futile because of insufficient data.
“We can’t deny that it’s iconic, if not historic,” Moylan said while peering at the two-story tract’s amenities, including an octagonal tower, an intricate chimney and stepped gables. “We’re trying to find someone to sustain its presence.”
Though the Pennsport dweller is drawing a sense of civic pride through his engagement, a recent visit to the website of Cedar Realty Trust, Cedar’s parent company, slightly dashed his optimism. A demographic profile places a Checkers eatery in the firehouse’s spot, a discovery that counters his belief on what will foster Pennsport’s economic growth.
“Again, I understand it’s Cedar’s turf, but there is a newfound appreciation for this area, and I just don’t see that as a good fit,” Moylan, who contends a microbrewery could make a fine replacement for the shuttered steakhouse, whose closing details Cedar would not address, said. “We made [it] clear we’re not necessarily going to accept what they put there, but we will not accept nothing being there either.”
The committed leader stated the above over fears Cedar could simply elect to make a parking lot, which he holds would drive residents crazy. Community denizens have echoed his call for careful handling of the 1,053-square-foot haven through signing 10 paper petitions and an online form by Anthony Maisano.
“When I heard about the matter, it seemed senseless to me to have the firehouse demolished,” the resident of the 700 block of Annin Street said. “I’m remaining optimistic that these very influential people can get someone to revive the building.”
In his web-based outreach, the Passyunk Square resident lauds the haunt as “undoubtedly full of aesthetic character and charm.” Moylan reiterated that opinion by stating the building, which the City’s Office of Property Assessment has valued at $1.26 million, remains in solid condition and lacks any outstanding infrastructural violations. Hopeful for refashioning instead of demolishing, he knows it cannot remain vacant much longer because of Cedar’s need to keep its permit from expiring and his overall belief that empty locations benefit nobody.
“We’ve had to deal with that matter too much recently,” he said, acknowledging the closing of Abigail Vare, 1621 E. Moyamensing Ave., Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 2329 S. Third St., and Sacred Heart of Jesus, 1329 E. Moyamensing Ave., schools since June of last year. “We’re eager to present Cedar with a number of candidates.”
The winning applicant would need to take on a five-year lease, but with the Checkers matter on their minds, Moylan and the others must contemplate that Cedar, which had vowed to suspend demolition talks in anticipation of last month’s powwow, might already have determined its course of action.
“Demolition isn’t cheap so that’s something to contemplate, too,” Leech said.
“We want Cedar to be a part of the neighborhood, not just an occupant in it,” Moylan added of the seven-year itch to see the matter resolved. “Any demolition work would likely mean they would need a zoning variance to put up something new, so it’s a good think they finally met with us to try to sustain a solid relationship because Pennsport residents, and this overwhelms me, have so much enthusiasm for the firehouse, which Cedar has no interest, for business reasons, in helping us to make historic. Its future is definitely a sensitive issue.”
For more information, contact pennsport@aol.com or call 215-462-9764.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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